Claire is very proud to have served Watton and the villages of Carbrooke, Caston, Griston and Ovington, as County Councillor, for the last 10 years.

Full statement

Living and working locally and with historic family and business connections to the Watton and Wayland area going back at least five generations, Claire is passionate about working hard to deliver the best outcomes for all Watton Division residents, from those who have lived and worked here all their lives to the many new residents, who we welcome as they too make Watton and Wayland their home.

Claire is supporting, in particular, programmes to see future investment in our town and it’s High Street, such as the Middle Street pedestrianisation project and wider High Street regeneration proposals including the Digital Media Centre project and she will continue to actively do so. Claire has worked hard to see road safety initiatives delivered, through her own Member’s Highway budget, and the County Council Parish Partnership Scheme, in particular focusing on 20mph restrictions outside local schools such as Caston Primary, Watton Westfield, and the High Street 20mph encompassing Watton Junior School. Through the Highways Road Safety Fund Claire has been successful in securing funding for two schemes: 20mph along the Caudle Springs school footpath route to Carbrooke School and 20mph along Merton Road, Watton, past the Wayland Academy.

As Conservative Breckland Councillor representing Watton Claire has actively taken a stand against Breckland Council’s proposal for charging for car parking in Watton, believing it to pose a significant economic risk, at this time, for Watton High Street retailers whilst at the same time discriminating against Watton High Street’s most dependable customer base and recognising that Breckland Council’s own consultant’s originally recommended that there should be no charging for parking in Watton.